Heddle frame for looms



July 10,1945.l E. srREULl HEDDLE FRAME FOR LOOMS Filed May 18, 1942 Patented July 10, 1945 UNITED STATES vrarsNr oFFlcE HEDDLE FRAME FOR LOOMS i YEmil Streuli, Horgen, Switzerland, assignor to Grob & Co., A. Gr., Horgen, Switzerland Application May 18, 1942, Serial No. 443,449

6 Claims. l('(Ll. ISSQBZ) The present invention relates to heddle frames for looms, and more particularly to improved means for connecting the heddle frame with the shedding device of the loom.

The main object of the invention consists in the provision of connecting means or clutches adapted to hold the heddle frame in its proper position and preventing movement and lateral displacement of the heddle frame in respect to the members of the shedding mechanism operating the heddle frame.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved connectingv means which may be fastened to the heddle frame but which may be readily released to permit the adjustment or the removal of the heddle frame.

A further object of the invention consists in a heddle frame support which will automatically lock the heddle frame while the shedding is in operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide `a heddle frame support which will be simple and inexpensive in construction yet sturdy and reliable in operation. Other objects will appear from the specication and claims.

'I'he nature and characteristic features of the inventionwill be more readily understood from the following description .taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming partv thereof, in which Fig. l is a side elevation view of a heddle frame, parts being broken away.

Fig. 2 shows in a side View a self-locking hook attached to the upper rail of the heddle frame the same being drawn to an enlarged scale.

Fig. 3 is a front view thereof.

Fig. 4 is a section taken on line IV-IV of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 shows in a side view a self-locking hook attached to the lower bar of the heddle frame.

Fig. 6 is a `front view thereof.

Fig. l shows in a side elevation and Fig. 8 in a front view a modified construction of a suspension hook with means to secure same on a rail of the heddle frame.

Figs. 9 and 10 are each an enlarged fragmentary side elevation view illustrating a supporting hook in conjunction with a portion of a rail of the heddle frame cn which they are mounted.

It will, of course, be understood that the description and drawing herein contained are illustrative merely and that various modifications and changes may be made in the structure disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawing, the heddle frame there shown comprises a top and a bottom rail 9, 9 interconnected at their ends by bars 40. The rails or staves 9, 9 consist of light metal for instance of an aluminum alloy, they are hollow and are provided with ribs 1. The ribs 1, are of' T- shape in cross section each rib has its head or lateral anges extending from the stem 8 so that supporting attachments or clutches I may be mounted thereon in such a mannerthat they are free to slide longitudinally over the said flanges. For the suspension of the heddle frame the clutches I embrace the rib 1 of therail 9. The clutch I shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 comprises two like members 4, 5 held together by a rivet 3. Each member It, 5 is provided with a jaw 6 centrally spaced from the web, but having two extensions 4|, 4|1 engaging the stem or web 8 of the rib 1. On the rivet 3 a hook I2 is rotatably mounted. The hook I2 has two bevelled cam faces 42 engaging correspondingly bevelled cam portions i0, of the upper parts I3, |4 of the members 4, `5. By turning the hook I2 to its upright position shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the parts l0, Il are forced apart the hook acting as a wedge. At thesame time the jaw extensions 4I 4| are firmly pressed on to the rib 1, the rivet 3 allowing a certain limited pla'y of the parts 4, y5. The clutch I is thereby securely held on the heddle frame. The hook l2 is connected by a suitable link, chain or the like, to the shedding mechanism of the loom as known per se.

In Figs. 5 and 6 a clutch is shown for use in conjunction withj the bottom rail or stave 9 of the'heddle frame when the latter` is positively drawn downwards by the shedding motion. The clutch comprises two like members 41, 51 held by a rivet 31 in such a manner that they have some play thereon. On the rivet 31 a hook 22 is rotatably mounted having outer cam faces 23 engaging correspondingly shaped cam faces |01, ||1 on the parts |01, ||1 of the clutch. The members Ill, 51 are provided each with a jaw 61 engaging the stem or web 8 of the rib 1. .When turning the hook 22 into the position shown in Fig. 5 the parts |01, ||1 are forced apart and the eX- tensions 4|, 4|' are rmly pressed on the rib, the hook 22 acting in the manner of a wedge. The hook 22 is connected by links, chains or any other known means with the heddle shaft operating devices of the loom. The' heddle assembly cannot accidentally shift when the clutches are. firmly held in their place. The clutches may be easily brought in position and are automatically fastened on the rails 9 by the draft exerted on the hooks l2, 22, when the shedding is started.

In Figs. 'l and 8 a modified construction is shown. The clutch comprises two like side parts 3|, 32 welded together to form a hook 3D at the upper end and shanks with jaws 6 at the lower end, the latter being centrally spaced from web 8 but being provided with extensions 4I, 4|1, engaging the web 8 of the rib 1. Between the shanks of the parts 3l, 32 a bolt 34y is rotatably mounted. On said bolt 34 a circular disk 33 is excentrically secured contacting with the upper edge of the rib '1. By turning the bolt 34 in one direction the disk 33 is firmly pressed on to said rib. 4The clutch is thereby securely held in position on the rail 9, and the heddle frame is maintained in its proper position, as the extensions 40, 4l are forced against the shoulders ofthe flanges of the rib 1.

As shown in Fig. 9 the clutch may be fastened in its correct position on the stave 9 of the heddle frame 9 by means of a wedge cam 36 having a slanting groove through which theA bolt 35 of the clutch passes.. By driving the wedge 36 in the one or the other direction,v the clutch may be loosened or securely xed on the stave 9V of the heddle frame.

Fig. 10 shows a xing device for the clutch on the stave 49 comprising a locking member 39 slidably arranged between two shanks of a clutch hook l. The upper edge 3l of the rib 5-1 istoothed" and the locking member 39 is provided with teeth 38 engaging the toothed edge 31. A spring Ml acting on the locking member 39 holds the. same in engagement with' the rib' 5l, while the loom is` being operated.

While4 I have described my invention in connection with heddle frames having metallic rails, I wish to point out that the invention may be used in combination with heddle 4frames having wooden staves, the same being provided with iron rail having T'eshapeciy cross section.

To secure a 'firmv grip of the clutches on the facesr of the` ribs the latter may be roughened or toothed, the jaws of the clutches havingl conforming engaging faces.

What I wish to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. An attachment clutch forheddle frames, the staves of which have ribs. each with a web and an enlarged head, comprising a pair of interconnected jaws, one on each side of a rib, with elongated portions opposite the web of the vrib and centrally spaced from the web, the elongated portions having terminal parts in sliding engagementwith the web.

2. An attachment clutch for heddle frames, the staves of which have ribs each with a web and an enlarged head comprising a pair of interconnected jaws, one on each side of a rib the jaws having elongated portions, the central portions of the jaws being spaced from the web and head of the rail, while the elongated portions have terminal parts in sliding engagement with the web and head of the rail and means for forcing the terminal parts into gripping engagement with the web of the rib.

3. An attachment clutch for heddle frames, which have rails, comprising a pair of jaws, one on each side of the rail, a pin traversing the jaws beyond the outer edge of the rail, a cam member rotatable about the axis of the pin and adapted upon rotation to force the inner portions of the. jaws into engagement with the rail at selectively determined points lengthwise of the rail, and an attachment hook integral with said rotary cam member.

44 In an attachment clutch for heddle frames having' rails each with a rib which consists of a web and an enlarged head, the combination of a 'hook member, two jaws on said member, one on each side of a rib, and means interposed between the jaws for forcing the jaws laterally against the rib while they are in engagement with the head of the rib at selectively determined points lengthwise of the rail.

5. In an attachment clutch for heddle frames which are provided with railsfhaving ribs each with a web and an enlargedA head, the combination of a hook member, two jaws associated with said hook member, one on each side of a rib, means interposed between the jaws for locking the jaws laterally against the web of the rib in parallel planes' and against the head of the rib in a plane angularly related to the rst named plane at selectively determined points lengthwise of the rail.

6. In an attachment clutch for heddle frames, the staves of which are provided with ribsV each with a web and an enlarged head, the combination of an attachment hook, two jaws connected to the hook, one on each side of a rib, and means interposed between the jaws and in permanent engagement with the inner faces thereof for forcing the jaws against the web of the rib while they are in engagement with the head of the rib at selectively determined points lengthwise of the rail. l

y EMIL S'I'REULI. 

